By Terri Langford, The Dallas Morning News
Fired Dallas police chief Terrell Bolton filed a federal lawsuit against the city of Dallas on Thursday, claiming he was wrongfully terminated when he was removed from his post last summer.
The lawsuit, which charges Dallas officials failed to abide by its own charter when it removed the 45-year-old nearly four years as the highest-ranking police official, came as no surprise.
Mr. Bolton and his attorney, Robert C. Hinton have cried foul in the months since Dallas City Manager Ted Benavides dismissed the 24-year police veteran on Aug. 26.
The suit, which asks for unspecified damages, centers on a single complaint: that Mr. Bolton should have been restored to his previous rank of sergeant instead of being dismissed from service, in accordance with the Dallas city charter. Mr. Benavides and the city of Dallas, were named as the suit’s defendants.
Janice Moss, an assistant Dallas city attorney, said the lawsuit was being reviewed.
In a prepared release issued before a Thursday, 5 p.m. news conference, Mr. Bolton said he was left with no other alternative but to sue his former employer.
“I regret that it has come to this,” he said in the statement. “But we tried to give the city a chance to the right thing and they refused.
In 1999, Mr. Bolton was tapped by Mr. Benavides to replace retiring chief Ben Click.
But after a series of controversies occurred on Mr. Bolton’s watch, Mr. Benavides made the decision to fire him.
The issues included deteriorating relations with the FBI, the fake-drugs scandal, the demotion of several commanders and an unwillingness to follow Mr. Benavides’ directives.
Although the lawsuit fails to offer a specific damage amount, Mr. Hinton said the lost income, benefits and Mr. Bolton’s mental anguish could push damages into the millions of dollars.
Mr. Bolton’s attorney notified the city last month he intended to proceed with legal action on behalf of his client and that he be compensated for more than $5 million worth of mental anguish.
That $5 million claim was based on the amount the city paid seven police commanders Mr. Bolton demoted while he was chief.
City officials have consistently vowed that said they have no plans to pay Mr. Bolton, calling his firing by Mr. Benavides justified.
The city of Dallas has hired a small Georgia headhunting firm to locate a successor. Police chief candidates have until Monday to file their application. More than 50 candidates have applied so far.
Staff Writer Matt Stiles contributed to this report.